Congratulations to Lackawanna Trail on a great football season that ended last Thursday in the state championship game. While they came in second against Farrell, this year’s Lions made the school’s first-ever trip to the finals and set a school record with 14 wins.

Pictured with me are freshman Mike Edwards and senior team Captain Jordan Edwards.

Local Teacher Wins Statewide Honor

Marilyn Pryle from Abington Heights High School in Lackawanna County is Pennsylvania’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. She will represent the Commonwealth in next year’s National Teacher of the Year competition.

Marilyn, who teaches English, is one of 12 Teacher of the Year finalists. Nominations for the award were submitted by students, parents, peers, and members of the community wishing to honor and recognize educator achievements both inside and outside of the classroom.

Applications for 2019 Pennsylvania House Scholarships Now Available

High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship.

Each year the program awards four-year scholarships to two students preparing for post-secondary education. The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. It is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

The program is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.

Students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school in order to be eligible for a scholarship. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.

The application is available through the foundation’s website at www.tfec.org. Once on the site, click on the “Scholarship” tab at the top of the page. Then click on any of the counties listed underneath or the link entitled “any other county in the state of Pennsylvania” to access the scholarship information. The application deadline is March 1, 2019.

Tunkhannock’s “Christmas in our Hometown” Event

Pictured with me are Wyoming County fair queens Madison Sickler and Serena Aunick.

Cookies and hot cocoa sponsored by Pilgrim Holiness Church.

Cookie Walk at the Dietrich Theater with Hildy Morgan and Margy Young. Both are members of the theater’s board of trustees.

Head Start Visit

I visited the Head Start class at Tunkhannock School District this week to read them the book “A Night in Santa’s Great Big Bag.” Pictured with me and the students are (from left) Ashley Uprigh, family worker; Nancy Clark, assistant teacher; and Jessica Rittinger, teacher.

Attention Veterans

This Tuesday, Dec. 18, veterans outreach hours will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dallas district office, 105 Lieutenant Michael Cleary Drive. A claims consultant from the Wilkes-Barre VFW will be on hand to address questions and concerns of local veterans and their families.

Thank You for Your Service

Congratulations to Cpl. George Jones of Dallas and Sgt. Joseph Mitchell of Tunkhannock on being promoted within the Pennsylvania State Police. Cpl. Jones is joining the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Department Watch Center; while Sgt. Mitchell has being assigned to the Bureau of Training and Education, Northeast Training Center.

Clean Slate Law to Take Effect Soon

Pennsylvanians with certain low-level offenses on their records will have their records automatically sealed under a new law taking effect this month.

Act 56 of 2018 allows records of second and third-degree misdemeanor criminal convictions to be automatically sealed after a 10-year period without subsequent offenses. The law does not apply to violent offenses or those committed with a firearm or other dangerous item; sexual offenses; cruelty to animals; or corruption of minors.

This legislation balances the opportunity for low-level, nonviolent offenders to move forward with their lives, while at the same time not shielding the records of violent criminals.

Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to enact this so-called “clean slate” legislation.

Help for Small Business Owners

If you own a small business and need some assistance, a representative from the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center will visit out Tunkhannock district office this Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. The center provides educational programs and no-cost, confidential consulting services to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a small business.

Renew Dog Licenses Now

Pet owners are reminded that all dogs in Pennsylvania three months of age and older must be licensed by Jan. 1, 2019. You can purchase a 2019 license through your local county treasurer’s office.

Violators can be cited with a maximum fine of $300 per violation plus court costs. Learn more here.